Pipe-laying machine.



110.850.238. v PATENTBDAPR. 16, 1907.

v M. s. MANNING.

` PIPE LAYING MACHINE.

ArrLIoATIoN Hmm 1320.13, 190e.

A TTU/@NE ys Uniriin sTAriis PATENT OFFICE.

MICHAEL S. MANNING, OF MORTON, PENNSYLVANIA.-

' PIPE-LAYING MACHINE.

To all wir/0711, 1t/ may concerm y Beit known that I, MICHAEL S. MANNING, a lcitizen of the United States, residing at Morton, in the county of Delaware and State of Pennsylvania, have invented 'a new and useful Pipe-Laying Machine, of whichthe following is a speciiication.

This invention relates to a pipe-laying machine of that type in 'whichsection after section of the pipe can be driven into the earth, so that excavating'can be avoided, and is intended more particularly for use by plumbers for facilitating-the laying ofv gas and water pipes under sidewalks and streets.

. The invention has for one of its objects to improve and simplify the construction and operation of apparatus of this character so as to be reliable and efiicient in use, comparatively easy and inexpensive to vmanufacture, and to enable pipes to be laid'with dispatch and a minimum of labor.

A further object of the invention is the provision of a simple and effective drivin mechanism by Which the pipe to be laid is simultaneously rotated and fed forwardly to bore its Way into the earth. g y

With these objects in view andothers as will appear as the nature of the invention is better understood the invention comprises the various novel features of construction and arrangement of parts, as will be more fully described hereinafter and set forth with particularity in the claims appended hereto.

In the accompanying drawings, which illustrate certain of the embodiments of the invention, Figure 1 is a plan View of the machine with portionsbrokenaway. Fig. 2 is a longitudinal section thereof. Fig; 3 is a vertical transverse section on the Fi 2. Fig. 4 is a detail view of ho der.. Fig. 5 isa f ragmentary showing a modified form of the pipeplan view eed device.

Fig. 6 is a vertical transverse section ofthe machine equippedwitli lthe modified form of feed devices. Fig. 7 is a detail view of one of the nut holders or guides for one of the feed devices.

Corresponding parts in the lseveral iigures are yindi `iated throughout by similar characters of reference.

"Referring to the drawings 1 designates the base` of the machine, and 2 the frame thereof, p

ported on the an, the frame wh ich is ai tached to and sup bava hy 10.53. As viewed in p i. is rectangular in shapeand of a length several times greater than its width. It is pref- Specification of Letters Patent. Y Application filed December i3. 1906. Serial No.- 347.656.

screws 12 being employedto ing members in place, as shown clearly in "the line 3 3,V

rame 17 is Patented April 16,1907.

-' laying. On the front end of the pipe a suitable bit is provided, so as to bore-a hole in the earth tc receive the pi e. The pipe is shown passing through a Wal 7 and partly driven 6 5 into the earth on the o posite side`as, for instance, under a sidewa k-a suitable opening being iirst provided in the wall' for the pipe to extend through. At the4 ends of the ame arebearin -plates 8, which are held in grooves 7 o 9 in the si es of the frame and rest on the end. wall 5, onebf said rooves being clearly shown in the upper rigv -t-hand corner of Fig.` 1. These platesare rovided with semicircular bearings 10, whic cooperate with the semi? 7 '5 circular bearings 4 to guide the pipe through the frame. The plates are secured in position by means of clamping members 11, that are of L-shaped cross-section, as shown in Fig. j 2, and extend over the ends of theframe 2 8o and project inwardlyat their upper portions over the top of the bearin' lates 8, .vset- Iidldthe clampupper right-hand corner of-Fig..1.V These p ates are removable, so-thatothers with different-sized bearings may be,inserted for receiving nipes of ldifferent-sized diameters.

The plate andclamping members may also be removed for the purpose of placing the'g pipe in the machine.

Arranged on the pipe is a sleeve 13, that is clamped to the ipe .by means of split bushings 14, extending into the ends ofthe sleeve. These bushings are keyed tov the 9 5 sleeve' so as to rotate therewith 'and are clamped to the ipe bythe screw-bolt 15.

The bore of the s eeve is of suitable diameter to receive pipes of various sizes, a plurality of sets of bushings 14 being provided for the difroo ferent-sized pi es. A The exterior of the sleeve.

is reduced to crm shoulders 16 at its ends,

and between these'shoulders is arran ed a4 supporting-frame 17 for parts of the driving mechanism and is preferably made in two arts divisible on a longitudinal'axis. .The

provided with a bearin V18 for the transverse dri ving-shaft 19. helcap v 1S of the bearing is removable to permit the shaft 19 to -be lifted out. The driving-shaft iro extends through bearing-blocks 20, adjacent j its ends, which move in the horizontal guideways 21 'at the sides of the frame 2. The frame 17 is held from rotating by means of the driving-shaft 19 and is adapted to move lon itudinally of the machine with the said sha t through the operation of the feed mechanism. Extendin laterally from the frame 17 is a bearing-stu 21 on which is rotatably mounted the `miter-gear 22, Ithat meshes with the miter-gear 23 on the sleeve 13. Rigidly secured to the gear-22 is a pinion 24, that meshes with the gear-wheel 25 on the driving-shaft 19. The gear-wheeland pinion, as well as the miter-gears, may be proportioned to rotate the sleeve 13 and pipe 6 at any desired speed. To permit thel .shaft to be removed, rails 26 are em loyed to form the upper portions of the gui( eways 21, and these rails .are pivoted at one en'd of the frame 2, so; as to swing upwardly, as shown by dotted lines in Fig. 2, and the free ends`v of the rails'are normally secured in place by the thumb-screws 27. One end of the driving-shaft 19 is extended beyond the side of the frame 2 and is adaptedvto receive any suitable device for rotating the same.

In order to feed the-pipe forwardly, the rotation of the driving-shaft is employed, so that the feed of the pipe can be accomplished automatically. According to the construction shown in Figs. 1 to 3, inclusive, the frame 2 is provided with longitudinal racks on its side walls,with which mesh piniions V29 on the driving-shaft. By this means the rotation of the driving-shaft will cause the latter to gradually move laterally from one end of the frame to the other. This lateral movement of the vshaft carries the frame 17 with it, and since the sleeve 13 is rotatably mounted in the frame the pipe 6 is continuously advanced ,while it is rotated through the ruiter-gearing between the pipe and the driving-shaft.

The feed mechanism shown in Figs. 5 and 6 comprises a pair of stationary screws 30, eX- tending'longitudinally of the frame 2 and supported at their ends on the latter. On each screw is a nut 31, which is provided with teeth 32,'forming a worm-wheel that meshes with the worm 38 on the drivingshaft 19.

shaft 19 bodily so that the pipe 6 is advanced continuously during the rotation of the driving-shaft.

The operation is as follows: The machine i is first arranged in the desired position and secured in place, as by staking it on the floor or securing it in any other suitable manner.

in either of two ways.`

The rotation of the driving-shaft l. causes the feed-nuts 3,1 to turn and move The pipe tche driven after'ibeing fittedwith a suitabie bit can be placed in the machine method the pipe 6 is moved inwardly through the bearing at the left-hand end of the machine, through the sleeve 13, and then through the bearing at the right-hand end of the machine. 'The split bushings are then AccordingL tol oneI y fitted into. the ends of the sleeve, and the clamping-bolts 15 are Athen tightened so as to clamp the pipe and sleeve together; The machine is then ready to lay the pipe, and all that is", necessary is to rotate the drivingshaft ,19. This can be done by a crank operated by hand or by any suitable power mechanism, as ,will b e readily understood. Since l the feed of the pipe is done automatically, no

attention is required on the part of the operator, the feedand rotation of the pipe'being accomplished merely by rotating'the drivingshaft 19. According to thesecond method of placing the pipe the driving-shaft is removed from the frame 17 by opening the cap v 18 and by raising the guide-rails 2 6. When the feed. mechanism, such as that shown in Fig. 1, is em loye'd, the driving-shaft can be then readily ifted out. With the feed mechF` anism shown in Figs. 5 to 7 the top parts of the holders 34 are swung o en, so as to permit the shaft 19'to be lifte out. The bearingplates 8 and clamping members 11 are' next removed from the frame 2. 'The sleeve 13, with the supportingframe 17, is then'fadjusted to the pi e 6, after which the latter'is low` ered vertica ly intov bearings 4. j The bearingplates 8 and clam ing members 11 are then replaced and the riving-shaft again secured in position, whereupon the machine is ready to be o erated. After the ipe has been fedforwar ly to such a point t at the sleeve 13 reaches the right-hand end of the frame the bolts 15 are loosened so that the sleeve 13 can be slid along the ipe to the left-hand end of the frame. Tnis movement of the sleeve carries with it the driving-shaft 19 and mechanism between it and the sleeve. The pinions 29 will move freely over the racks 29 as the sleeve is moved to the left, and after the latter reaches the end of the machine the screwbolts 15 are again clamped. The pipe can then be fed another step'forwardly, and the operation is repeated until the pipe is laid to the desired distance. In the nut-andscrew feed mechanism the return of the sleeve to the left-hand end of the machine can be accomplished by simultaneously rotating the screws 30 by means of cranks ap- IIO plied to the squared ends of the screws, one i of such ends being shown at 35, Fig. 5. When one section ofthe pipe is almost entirely laid, another section 6 is connected thereto by a coupling 6, as shown'in Fig. 2. p coupling 6 reaches the left-hand end of the machine, the bearinglate and clamping member'at the said en I of the machine are A s lit bushings loosened so `that they can beraised' to permit the couplin to move forwardly into the machine ,with t e advanceof the pipe. In order to move the sleeve 13 overthe coupling, as in readjusting the sleevejtothe pipe, the 14 are removed, so that the' c. ampingfsleeve can be 4f o ved over the coupling to the left end of the ,machine and bereclamped to the pipev to'ffeed the latteranother step forward;` When the coupling reaches the right end of the machine, the bearing-plate and clam ing member are loosened', so that the coupling can pass out of the machine, after which the bearing-plate and clamping.memberjareagain secured in place.

stood that the apparatus shown is mere illustrative and that various changes may bemade wheny desired as are` Within the scope of the claims.

What is claimed is#- f 1. Ina'pipe-laying machine, the combinav' tion of a supporting structure, guideways thereon for the thereon, bearing-blocks slidably mounted in the said Ways, a shaft mounted in the bearing-blocks, bearin s on the structure for the pipe to be laid, an se arate means for rotating and longitudina ly moving the pipe through the agency of the shaft. i

2. In a pipe-laying machine, the combination of a supporting structure, bearings rounding the pipe, split bushings fitted in the sleeve for clamping the latter to the pi e, means for rotating the sleeve, and means or moving the sleeve longitudinallyf- 3. Infa pipe-laying machine, the combination of a supporting structure, bearings thereon for the pipe to be laid, a sleeve adapted to be clamped to the pipe,l a two-part frame in which the sleeve rotates, la drivingshaft'eXtending through the tWopart frame, means for moving the shaft and thereby the framel on the supporting structure, and a gearing between the shaft and sleeve having one of its members supported on the twovpart frame.

4. In a pipe-laying machine, the combination of a stationary supporting structure, stationary bearings thereon for the pipe to be "laid, a driving-shaft extending transversely to the pipe and mounted on the structure to have la bodily lateral movement independently of the latter, a mechanism formoving lthe shaft laterally, a connection between the shaft and the gitudinally, and meansfor rotating the pipe by the driving-shaft.

5. f .n a pipe-laying machine, the com .bina-- It Will thus lie seen that section after section can be easily and quickly laid and fed l tion of pipe to be laid, a sleeve sur# pipe for moving the latter lontion -of a supporting structure, 'bearin s thereon for the bushingsfor clamping the sleeve to the lpipe Sand a mechanismlfor simultaneouslv rota'- ing the sleeve andfeeding the same ongitudinally, said mechanism including a drivingshaft which receives thepower for both ro'- tating and longitudinally movin the sleeve.

'I 6. In a pipe-laying machine, t e combina-4 tion of a supportinor structure, bearings thereon for the pi e tozbe laid, a sleeve adapted to beI clampe to the-pipe'to rotate the same and mve it'longitudlnally, a non-rotatable frame sleeved on the sleeve, a transverse shaft mounted-on the structure to have alateralmovementya bearing on the frame for the shaft through which the latter moves the frame and sleeve longitudinally, and a speed-multiplying device between theshaft and sleeve-for rotating thelatter.,

l 7. In a pipe-laying machine, the combinaa supporting structure for the pipe to be laid, guideways on the structure, bearingblocks therein, a driving-shaft mounted on vthe bearing-blocks for bodily lateral move-l ment, -means for connecting the shaft with t the pipe formov'ing the latter longitudinally ,by the'bodily movement of the shaft, a feed mechanism arranged to cause the rptation of the shaft to move the latter bodlly, and a gearing betweenthe shaft and pipe for rotate' ing the latter.

8. In a pipe-laying machine, the combina-- tion of a supporting structure for'the pipe to be laid, guideways thereon, a drivingfshaft,

pipe' to be laid, a sleeve sp 1t` lIGC bearing-blocks in the guideways for rotatably mounting for rotating the pipe and feeding the same by the rotation of the driving-shaft.

- 9.' In a pipe-laying machine, the combination vof a supporting structure for the pipe to` be laid, guideways thereon, a driving-shaft, bearing-blocks in the guideWays for rotatably mounting the shaft, a feed mechanism arran ed to move lthe shaft along the guide Ways y its rotation, and a mechanismen' -ranged to rotate the pipe by the driving-shaft at ahi her speed than the latter;

10. n a pipe-laying machine, the combination of a supporting structure for the pipe to be laid, guideways t ereon, a driving-shaft, bearing-blocks in the guideways for rotatably'mounting the shaft, racks on the structure, pinions meshing with the racks and secured to the shaft for -moving the latter bodily, means for connecting the shaft Wit-h the shaft, and separate means IIO IIS

thepipe, and 'a gearing between the shaft and pipe for rotating the latter.

1]. In a pipe-laying machine, the 'combination of a supporting structure for the pipe to be laid, a laterally movable and rotatable shaft on the structure, a sleeve adapted to be clamped to the pipe to rotate gitudinally therewith, a ncnrotatable frame sleeved to the pipe and ecnnected with the and move lonshaft to move the sleeve by the latter, and a power-transmitting mechanism between the v shaft and sleeve and supported on the frame v clam ed to the pipe to rotate and move lonvIO gitu inally therewith, a supporting means on the sleeve connected with t e shaft to/move the sleeve by the latter, a gearing including a-gear-wheel on the shaft and a pinion on the f supporting means, anda miter-gearing between the 1plnlon and leeve for rotating the latter by t e-driving-shaft. 13. In a pipe-laylng machine, the combi- 'thereby,. a gearon the-shaft,

ed on the frame, a miter-g/ear connected with nation of.a supporting structure for the pipe to be laid, a laterally movable and rotatable I shaft on'the structure, a sleeve throughwhch ingI the sleeveto thepi e, a frame on sleeve and connected wit the shaft to moveY with the latter and to be held from rotation a pinion mountthe pinion, and a miter-rgear on the sleeve..

In testimony that I claim lthe foregoing as my own I have hereto affixed my signature in thel presence of two Witnesses. v

' Y MICHAEL S. MANNING.

' Witnesses:

R; H. SANFORD, C. WL'FUIGLE.

. the'pipeextends,meansforremovably clamlp- 

